The Latest: UN: 34 killed in Congo since vote results issued

The U.N. human rights office says at least 34 people have been killed in Congo since disputed provisional election results were announced on Jan. 10.

Spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani tells reporters in Geneva that the U.N. rights office in Congo also has documented 59 people wounded in that time, along with 241 "arbitrary arrests."

She says that "we are very concerned about this, and we call on all sides to seek to resolve this situation through dialogue, and not through a resort to violence."

Congo's constitutional court is poised to rule on a challenge to the presidential election results. But the African Union continental body has issued a surprise request to suspend the release of final results, citing "serious doubts" about the vote.

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1:05 p.m.

Congo's government is dismissing a surprise request by the African Union to delay announcing the final results of the disputed presidential election. The AU notes "serious doubts" about the results and is sending a high-level delegation on Monday.

Spokesman Lambert Mende says this is a matter for Congo's judicial bodies, and "the independence of our judiciary is no problem."

He says it is up for judges with the Constitutional Court to respond. The court is poised to rule as early as Friday on a challenge to the presidential election results that alleges fraud.

Mende adds that "we will not refuse contacts with other members of the African Union."

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10:05 a.m.

An African Union spokeswoman says a high-level delegation is leaving on Monday for Congo after the continental body's surprise request to suspend the announcement of final election results. The AU cited "serious doubts" about the vote and said it would "urgently dispatch" a delegation.

Ebba Kalondo confirmed the delegation's departure date to The Associated Press. It will include heads of state.

Congo's constitutional court is poised to rule as early as Friday on a challenge to the presidential election results. Declared runner-up Martin Fayulu has requested a recount, alleging fraud.

Upholding the official election results could spark violence in a country hoping for its first peaceful, democratic transfer of power since independence in 1960.

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9:15 a.m.

Congo's constitutional court is poised to rule as early as Friday on a challenge to the presidential election results. But the African Union continental body has issued a surprise last-minute request for Congo's government to suspend the announcement of final results, citing "serious doubts" about the vote.

Upholding the official election results could spark violence in a country hoping for its first peaceful, democratic transfer of power since independence in 1960.

The AU statement late Thursday said heads of state and government agreed to "urgently dispatch" a high-level delegation to Congo to find "a way out of the post-electoral crisis" in the vast Central African nation rich in the minerals key to smartphones and electric cars around the world.